William J. Morgan (New York)

William J. Morgan (1897)

William James Morgan (October 16, 1840 in Peterborough, Upper Canada – September 5, 1900 in Albany, New York) was an American newspaper editor and politician.

Life

He came to the United States when 10 years old, and attended the public schools in Buffalo, New York.

At the outbreak of the American Civil War, he enlisted as a private in the 116th New York Volunteer Infantry, and fought in the Siege of Port Hudson and Battle of Cedar Creek. He was several times wounded, and retired in 1864 as a brevet lieutenant colonel of volunteers. He returned to Buffalo and in 1869 joined the editorial staff of the The Buffalo Commercial newspaper where he worked for the next 20 years.

In 1880, Governor Alonzo B. Cornell appointed him a canal appraiser, and he served as Chairman of the Canal Board. President Benjamin Harrison appointed him Collector of Customs at the Port of Buffalo.

In 1894, he was appointed Deputy Comptroller by James A. Roberts, and in 1898 was elected New York State Comptroller to succeed Roberts. He died on the day of his re-nomination by the Republican state convention.

References

• Obit in NYT on November 7, 1900
• The Republican nominees, in NYT on September 28, 1898 (stating he was 52 years old, which would mean a birth in 1846)